PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Josh Palmer’s 71 receiving yards and a touchdown against Charlotte moved the sophomore into the team lead with 414 yards. With 18 receptions, Palmer leads the SEC with an average of 23 yards per catch — trailing only Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler (23.9 yards per catch) for tops in the nation.
–WR/PR Marquez Callaway provided all the scoring that Tennessee would need in its 14-3 win over Charlotte courtesy of an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown midway through the first quarter. It’s the second career punt return touchdown for the junior and first since taking one 62 yards for a score against Tennessee Tech nearly two years to day in early November of 2016. Callaway has 402 receiving yards on the season, second-most on the team behind Josh Palmer.
–CB Bryce Thompson snared his team-leading third interception, picking off pass from Charlotte quarterback Evan Shirreffs. The freshman also earned his first career sack, giving him his second tackle for loss in as many games and fourth on the year.
–FS Todd Kelly Jr. is returning to his old form after rejoining the secondary three games ago. The senior has 14 tackles, including seven against Charlotte. Kelly amassed 157 career tackles and eight interceptions before a knee injury claimed all but two games last year and the first six of the 2018 campaign.
SERIES HISTORY: Kentucky might be favored to win on Saturday, but it’s Tennessee that has owned the 114-year old rivalry with 79 wins (79-25-9), its most versus any program. During that time, the Wildcats have walked out of Neyland Stadium with a victory just 10 times — and not since 1984. The Vols last faced a ranked Kentucky squad on Nov. 19, 1977, a 21-17 win for the No. 7 Wildcats. Tennessee, however, is 3-2 all time against Kentucky teams ranked in the AP Top 25 — with all three upset victories coming between 1949 and 1953.
QUOTE TO NOTE “When you speak about the program, the University of Tennessee, that’s my pride and joy. My blood runs orange. I grew up here. I’m a Knoxville native, so when I had the decision to come back again, why would I not try to extend my career for this ball team, for this community and for this city? I wanted to play for Coach Pruitt. — Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr., on his decision to return after a knee injury nearly ended his career
